Idol I: Kwak Byung-gyun's growth from bully to truth-seeker makes him the most compelling character, here's why

If we talk about Idol I, there's one character that we absolutely can't ignore, and that's Kwak Byung-gyun. The story of Idol I revolves around Se Na, a role played by Choi Soo Young, and Ra-Ik, a character played by Kim Jae Yeong.

And while these two characters play the lead in the Korean series, Kwak Byung-gyun's transformation from being a problem in the beginning to solving a case in the end makes him the most compelling character of Idol I.

Kwak Byung-gyun, a character played by Jung Jae Kwang, is the prosecutor in Ra-Ik's case, and as the drama progresses, viewers also come to know that he was the childhood bully of Se Na.

Throughout the show, Byung-gyun is seen contemplating whether he should frame Ra-Ik and win the case or just find the truth. And while at times, it does look like he is being a good guy, he is also influenced by his father, who constantly pressures him to win the case.

Let's find out how Kwak Byung-gyun's journey made him the most intriguing character in Idol I.

Disclaimer: The details of this article are based on the author's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.

Kwak Byung-gyun's journey and what makes him the most compelling character in Idol I

There's no doubt that Idol I has great, well-written characters in the drama. Se Na, who is an attorney of Ra-Ik, is also his fan. Though viewers later come to know about her traumatic past, where her father was framed for a murder he didn't commit and hung himself. Se Na is seen as a strong, independent woman who didn't depend on anyone and, even after facing the challenge, built a life that she is proud of.

On the other hand, Ra-Ik, who is a famous celebrity, deals with anxiety and had a tough childhood where her mother ignored him and pushed him to perform for money. After meeting Se Na, he understood the meaning of love and even thanked her for everything, showing he was just a human looking out for love and admiration.

By contrast, Byung-gyun’s journey unfolds very differently from Se Na and Ra-Ik's, and while at first he looked like a negative character after being revealed as Se Na's bully, his transformation made him one of the most compelling and interesting characters in the drama.

Kwak Byung-gyun is introduced in Episode 2 as the prosecutor in Ra-Ik's case after Ra-Ik becomes a suspect in the murder of his bandmate, Woo-seong. Byung-gyun is shown as an arrogant son of a famous family with a legal background. In the beginning, he just wanted to win this famous case to enter politics and gain power. He even pressures Se Na to drop the case. However, she fights for Ra-Ik and raises legal points that even Byung-gyun is unable to answer.

In Idol I Episode 3, Kwak Byung-gyun is forced by his father to win the case so he can move into politics. His father also puts him down by mentioning Se Na and saying she is ranked above him in school. Byung-gyun, at this point, just wanted to solve the case and even interrogated Hye-Joo, a daughter of a famous family, without thinking of the consequences. Though, clearly, his chief was not very happy with it.

For the most part, we see Byung-gyun putting his best efforts into finding more details and the actual killer, as he also interrogates Jae-hee about why he lied about being in the hospital on the night of the murder.

However, from time to time, he is forced by his father to frame Ra-Ik and not change his suspect, as it would ruin his reputation.

When Se Na confronts Kwak Byung-gyun about the same and how his father did the same thing to her father by framing him, even when he's innocent, Byung-gyun claims that her father was not innocent, nor is Ra-Ik, and just like his father, he will defeat her once again.

His reaction comes from being stuck between finding the truth and framing Ra-Ik to protect his name, and Se Na's words only make him react more strongly. By the end, Byung-gyun's character becomes just like his father. However, his actions were driven more by loyalty to his father than by personal gain.

His character turns from a bully to a hero in the last two episodes after Jae-hee and Se Na request him to find the actual truth. Se Na even questions him if he will be able to live with himself after framing an innocent person, a question that makes him realize the wrong path he was about to take.

He arrests Hye-joo and clears Ra-Ik's name. On top of that, he also thanked Se Na for making him a successful prosecutor and even attended her appeal for a retrial in her father's case, showing growth both as a professional and as a person.

Kwak Byung-gyun even says sorry to Se Na for her father's past actions. Also, there's no excuse for his bullying behavior, but his apologizing to Se Na shows he was trying to improve himself.

Overall, in Idol I, he grows from being arrogant and selfish to a prosecutor committed to the truth. He finally breaks away from his father's negative shadow, which makes his character more appealing.

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